Western Kentucky Hilltoppers basketball explained

Current:2023–24 Western Kentucky Hilltoppers basketball team
Western Kentucky Hilltoppers
University:Western Kentucky University
Conference:C-USA
Location:Bowling Green, Kentucky
Coach:Hank Plona
Tenure:1st
Arena:E. A. Diddle Arena
Capacity:7,500
Nickname:Hilltoppers
Ncaafinalfour:1971
Ncaaeliteeight:1940, 1971
Ncaasweetsixteen:1940, 1960, 1962, 1966, 1971, 1978, 1993, 2008
Ncaaroundof32:1940, 1960, 1962, 1966, 1967, 1970, 1971, 1976, 1978, 1986, 1987, 1993, 1995, 2008, 2009
Ncaatourneys:1940, 1960, 1962, 1966, 1967, 1970, 1971, 1976, 1978, 1980, 1981, 1986, 1987, 1993, 1994, 1995, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2008, 2009, 2012, 2013, 2024
Conference Tournament:1932, 1933, 1934, 1935, 1936, 1937, 1938, 1939, 1940, 1941, 1942, 1943, 1947, 1948, 1949, 1952, 1953, 1954, 1965, 1966, 1976, 1978, 1980, 1981, 1993, 1995, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2008, 2009, 2012, 2013, 2024
Conference Season:1949, 1950, 1952, 1954, 1955, 1956, 1957, 1960, 1961, 1962, 1966, 1967, 1970, 1971, 1972, 1976, 1980, 1981, 1982, 1987, 1994, 1995, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2006, 2008, 2009
Division Season:Sun Belt East: 2001, 2002, 2003, 2006, 2008, 2009,
C-USA East: 2021
H Pattern B:_thinsidesonwhite
H Body:B01E24
H Shorts:B01E24
H Pattern S:_thinsidesonwhite
A Pattern B:_thinwhitesides
A Body:B01E24
A Shorts:B01E24
A Pattern S:_whitesides
Below:
  • - vacated by NCAA

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The Western Kentucky Hilltoppers men's basketball team is the men's basketball team that represents Western Kentucky University (WKU) in Bowling Green, Kentucky. The Hilltoppers currently compete in Conference USA. The team's most recent appearance in the NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament was in 2024. Hank Plona was announced as the team's current head coach on April 2, 2024.[1]

The men's basketball program has the 16th most victories in the history of the NCAA[2] and has attained the eighth best winning percentage in NCAA history. The school made an NCAA Final Four appearance in 1971, which was later vacated, and has made four NIT Final Four appearances, including three in the early days of the NIT when it was on par with the NCAA tournament. The program has won numerous Ohio Valley Conference championships and was very competitive in its previous conference, the Sun Belt Conference, regularly finishing near the top of the conference and competing for the conference championship. In 2014, the Hilltoppers joined Conference USA following conference realignment.

Street & Smith's publication "100 Greatest Programs", ranked WKU #31. WKU has had 30 All Americans and 56 Hilltoppers have played professionally following their collegiate careers.[3]

Conference affiliation history

Postseason

WKU has appeared in 41 national postseason tournaments and in five national final fours. The school currently has a policy of only accepting invitations to the NCAA or NIT tournaments, which precludes participation in other tournaments such as the CollegeInsider.com Postseason Tournament and College Basketball Invitational.[4]

NCAA tournament results

The Hilltoppers have appeared in the NCAA tournament 24 times. Their combined record is 19–25. Their appearance in the 1971 NCAA Tournament and third-place finish were later vacated by the NCAA due to a player, Jim McDaniels, having signed a professional contract and accepted money during the season.[5]

Elite Eight Duquesne L 29–30
First Round
Sweet Sixteen
Regional 3rd Place Game 		Miami (FL)
Ohio State
Ohio 		W 107–84
L 79–98
W 97–87
First Round
Sweet Sixteen
Regional 3rd Place Game 		Detroit
Ohio State
Butler 		W 90–81
L 73–93
L 86–87
First Round
Sweet Sixteen
Regional 3rd Place Game 		Loyola (IL)
Michigan
Dayton 		W 105–86
L 79–80
W 82–62
First Round Dayton L 67–69 OT
First Round Jacksonville L 96–109
1971First Round
Sweet Sixteen
Elite Eight
Final Four
National 3rd Place Game 		Jacksonville
Kentucky
Ohio State
Villanova
Kansas 		W 74–72
W 107–83
W 81–78 OT
L 89–92 2OT
W 77–75
First Round Marquette L 60–79
First Round
Sweet Sixteen 		Syracuse
Michigan State 		W 87–86 OT
L 69–90
No. 10 First Round No. 7 Virginia Tech L 85–89 OT
No. 10 First Round No. 7 UAB L 68–93
No. 8 First Round
Second Round 		No. 9 Nebraska
No. 1 Kentucky 		W 67–59
L 64–71
No. 10 First Round
Second Round 		No. 7 West Virginia
No. 2 Syracuse 		W 64–62
L 86–104
No. 7 First Round
Second Round
Sweet Sixteen 		No. 10 Memphis
No. 2 Seton Hall
No. 3 Florida State 		W 55–52
W 72–68
L 78–81 OT
No. 11 First Round No. 6 Texas L 77–91
No. 8 First Round
Second Round 		No. 9 Michigan
No. 1 Kansas 		W 82–76 OT
L 70–75
No. 14 First Round No. 3 Florida L 56–69
No. 9 First Round No. 8 Stanford L 68–84
No. 13 First Round No. 4 Illinois L 60–65
No. 12 First Round
Second Round
Sweet Sixteen 		No. 5 Drake
No. 13 San Diego
No. 1 UCLA 		W 101–99 OT
W 72–63
L 78–88
No. 12 First Round
Second Round 		No. 5 Illinois
No. 4 Gonzaga 		W 76–72
L 81–83
No. 16 First Four
First Round 		No. 16 Mississippi Valley State
No. 1 Kentucky 		W 59–58
L 66–81
No. 16 First Round No. 1 Kansas L 57–64
No. 15 First Round No. 2 Marquette L 69–87
  • Vacated by the NCAA

NCAA Tournament seeding history

The NCAA began seeding the tournament with the 1979 edition.

NIT results

The Hilltoppers have appeared in the National Invitation Tournament (NIT) 15 times. When the NIT started, it was considered the premiere national college basketball tournament and remained on par with the NCAA Tournament through the mid-1950s, until the NCAA began giving automatic bids to conference champions in 1956.[6] Western Kentucky's first eight appearances occurred during this early period, including their 2nd-place finish in 1942, 3rd place in 1948, and 4th place in 1954. WKU also made the NIT Final Four in 2018.[7] Their combined record is 13–16.

Quarterfinals
Semifinals
Finals		CCNY
Creighton
West Virginia 		W 49–46
W 49–36
L 45–47
Quarterfinals Fordham L 58–60
Quarterfinals
Semifinals
3rd Place Game 		La Salle
Saint Louis
DePaul 		W 68–61
L 53–60
W 61–59
Quarterfinals Bradley L 86–95
First Round
Quarterfinals 		Niagara
St. John's 		W 79–72
L 46–65
First Round
Quarterfinals 		Louisville
St. Bonaventure 		W 62–59
L 69–70
Quarterfinals Duquesne L 61–69
Quarterfinals
Semifinals
3rd Place Game 		Bowling Green
Holy Cross
Niagara 		W 95–81
L 69–75
L 65–71
First Round
Quarterfinals 		Fordham
Army 		W 57–53
L 54–58
First Round Purdue L 65–72
First Round Kansas State L 74–85
Opening Round
First Round 		Kent State
Wichita State 		W 88–80
L 81–84
First Round South Carolina L 55–74
First Round
Second Round
Quarterfinals
Semifinals 		Boston College
USC
Oklahoma State
Utah 		W 79–62
W 79–75
W 92–84
L 64–69
First Round
Quarterfinals 		Saint Mary's
Louisiana Tech 		W 69–67
L 65–72

Other tournament results

In 1936 Western Kentucky was invited to the National Olympic Playoffs representing the South. They played two games against the Southwest representative, Arkansas, in Little Rock, AK, losing both games by scores of 36–43 and 30–38.[8]

The Hilltoppers were scheduled to appear in the 1938 National Intercollegiate Basketball tournament;[9] however, the team was unable to make the trip and withdrew from the tournament.[10] The NAIA lists the game as a forfeit, but Western Kentucky does not recognize the contest as part of their official record.[11]

The Hilltoppers appeared in the 1951 National Campus Basketball Tournament where they were defeated by Bradley 71–75 in the first round.[12]

Milestones

DateMilestoneOpponentResult (Won/Loss)
1914–1915 First win Bethel (Ky.) 38–21 (W)
1/28/1932 100th winBirmingham Southern37–25 (W)
12/5/1949 500th win Kentucky Wesleyan 89–45 (W)
2/19/1977 1,000th winMurray State82–81 (W)
2/5/2005 1,500th win Arkansas State 76–72 (W)
2/6/1943 500th game LaSalle 52–44 (W)
12/6/1960 1,000th gameLamar74–71 (W)
1/25/1997 2,000th gameNew Orleans70–66 (L)

E.A. Diddle Arena

The E.A. Diddle Arena is a 7,326-seat multi-purpose arena in Bowling Green, Kentucky, United States. The arena, built in 1963 is named after legendary WKU men's coach and Basketball Hall of Famer Edgar "E.A." Diddle.

Current coaching staff

  • Hank Plona - Head Coach
  • Talvis Franklin - Director of Basketball Operations
  • Bob Hubbard - Academic Coordinator
  • Martin Cross - Associate Director of Basketball Operations
  • Erien Watson - Program Manager

Former Head Coaches

All-Americans

YearNamePositionNotes
1938 Center (Chuck Taylor)
1940 Carlisle ToweryCenter (Chuck Taylor)
1941 Carlisle Towery Center(Chuck Taylor)
1943 Oran McKinneyCenter (Helms Foundation)
1948 Dee GibsonGuard(Associated Press***)
1948 Don RayForward(Helms Foundation*)
1948 Odie SpearsForward (Associated Press***)
1949 Bob LavoyCenter(Associated Press***)
1949 John OldhamGuard(United Press**, Associated Press***)
1950 Buddy CateForward (Associated Press***)
1950 Center(Chuck Taylor*, Associated Press***)
1953 Forward (Look Magazine**, Associated Press***)
1953 Art SpoelstraCenter(Associated Press***)
1954 Tom Marshall Forward (Associated Press*, United Press*, Look Magazine*)
1958 Center
1962 Bobby RascoeGuard
1964 Darel CarrierGuard (Helms Foundation)
1965 Forward (Associated Press***, United Press***)
1966 Clem Haskins Forward (Associated Press, United Press, Converse*)
1967 Clem Haskins Forward (USBWA, Associated Press,United Press,Helms Foundation, NABC*)
1969 Jim McDanielsCenter(Helms Foundation, Associated Press***, United Press***, Converse***)
1970 Jim McDaniels Center(Helms Foundation, Associated Press***, United Press***, Converse*)
1971 Jim McDaniels Center(NABC, USBWA, Associated Press, Sporting News, United Press, NBA)
1976 Johnny BrittGuard (Associated Press***)
1984 Forward (Sporting News All-Freshman)
1987 Forward (Associated Press***, Sporting News***)
1989 Guard (Associated Press***, Basketball Times***)
1993 Guard (Associated Press***)
1996 Chris RobinsonForward-Guard (Basketball Weekly***)
2001 Chris MarcusCenter (Associated Press***, Lindy's Basketball Annual)[13]
2002 Chris MarcusCenter (Associated Press***, Basketball America***)
2004 Mike WellsGuard (Associated Press***)
2006 Anthony WinchesterGuard (Associated Press***)
2008 Guard (Associated Press***,The NBA Draft Report**, Basketball Times**)
2009 Guard (Associated Press***)
2021 Center (Associated Press***, Basketball Times*, USBWA**, Lute Olsen)
  • Second team – **Third team – ***Honorable mention
[14]

Retired jerseys

The first jerseys retired in honor of Hilltopper basketball greats were hung in E.A. Diddle Arena during the 1999–2000 season. Also even though the jerseys are retired current and future players can and do use the numbers of the players whose jerseys are retired.

Western Kentucky Hilltoppers retired jerseys
width=40px style="" No.width=150px style="" Playerwidth= px style="" Yearswidth= px style="" Jer. ret.width= px style="" Ref.
22 1964–1967 2017 [15]
32 2004–2008 2017 [16]
35 1961–1964 2014 [17] [18]
41 1951–1954 [19]
42 1942–1943; 1947–1949 2011 [20]
42 1938–1941 2003 [21]
44 1968–1971 2000 [22]
45 1959–1962
— Coach, 1922–1964 [23]
— Wes Strader Radio voice

Season-by-season results

See main article: List of Western Kentucky Hilltoppers basketball seasons.

See also

External links

]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Hank Plona Named Western Kentucky Head Men's Basketball Coach. Western Kentucky Hilltoppers. April 2, 2024.
  2. Web site: NCAA All Time Winningest Teams at ncaa.org . 2012-08-12.
  3. Book: 100 Greatest College Basketball Programs of All Time. January 25, 2005. Smith & Street.
  4. News: HILLTOPPER FOCUS: WKU would not accept bid to CBI, CIT. Bowling Green Daily News. 2017-08-15. en.
  5. News: Standing Alone: WKU's 1971 Final Four team remains in a league of its own. Pratt. Elliott. College Heights Herald. 2017-08-15. en.
  6. Miller, Ralph (1990). "Ralph Miller: Spanning the Game." Sagamore Publishing LLC. p. 56. . "Had the Aggies lost one, we would have been forced to have a playoff, and that was the problem. We had already accepted a bid to play in the [1954] National Invitation Tournament (NIT). The tournament picture was much different then. There was no announcement of NIT teams following the selection of the NCAA field as exists today. The reason was that the NIT was still considered a premier tournament."
  7. Web site: Bracket, times, scores for 2018 National Invitation Tournament . NCAA.com . 2018-03-31 . 2022-05-07.
  8. Web site: 2019-20 Hilltopper Basketball Media Guide.
  9. https://www.naia.org/about/decades NAIA Through the Decades, NAIA.org retrieved May 20, 2020
  10. http://www.victorysportsnetwork.com/Clip/news/the-historical-naia-tournament.htm The Historical NAIA Tournament VSN (admin) Published Wednesday, July 04, 2018, retrieved May 20, 2020
  11. Book: Ruby, Earl. Red Towel Territory : A History of Athletics at Western Kentucky University. American National Bank and Trust Co.. 1979.
  12. Web site: National Campus Tournament 1951.
  13. https://www.bgdailynews.com/sports/marcus-honored-by-publication/article_5b9cbe31-d1a9-5c9b-921c-a962536e17ee.html Marcus honored by publication, WKU center lands on All-America team, By Justin Willis, Bowling Green Daily News, Aug 3, 2001 retrieved 27 April 2020
  14. 2011–12 WKU media guide
  15. https://wkusports.com/sports/2017/6/16/21-clemette-haskins
    1. 21 RETIRED UNIFORM
  16. https://wkusports.com/sports/2017/6/8/sports-m-baskbl-spec-rel-courtney-lee-html Courtney Lee Jersey Retirement
  17. https://www.bgdailynews.com/sports/wku/former-hilltopper-sharpshooter-carrier-to-have-jersey-number-retired-at-halftime/article_5d932962-c05b-5d76-b26f-009067ee2db4.html Former Hilltopper sharpshooter Carrier to have jersey number retired at halftime
  18. https://wkuherald.com/41169/sports/darel-carriers-no-35-jersey-retired/ Darel Carrier’s No. 35 jersey retired
  19. https://www.wilsonpost.com/community/mj-to-honor-legendary-tom-marshall/article_60a94922-d447-570b-9211-4167c78349fa.html MJ to honor legendary Tom Marshall
  20. https://www.courier-journal.com/story/sports/college/basketball/2020/11/23/john-oldham-wku-final-four-basketball-dies-97/6397665002/ John Oldham, coach of WKU's 1971 Final Four basketball team, dies at age 97
  21. https://www.bgdailynews.com/sports/wku/all-american-towery-dies/article_5618feaa-38b7-11e2-be7e-0019bb2963f4.html All-American Towery dies
  22. https://www.nytimes.com/2017/09/08/obituaries/jim-mcdaniels-dead-led-western-kentucky-to-1971-final-four.html Jim McDaniels, 69, Dies; Led Western Kentucky to Final Four
  23. https://www.bgdailynews.com/sports/e-a-diddle-coachs-jersey-retired/article_286db463-e456-5789-9c95-5eb7e352ea37.html E. A. Diddle coach's jersey retired

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